Lot 5 | Porcelain crown tureen, so-called "Drüselkästchen" of Maria Josepha

PORCELAIN CROWN TUREEN, SO-CALLED "DRÜSELKÄSTCHEN" OF MARIA JOSEPHA .

Meissen.
Date: 1973.
Maker/Designer: Model J.J. Kaendler.
Technique: Porcelain, enriched in colours and gold. Gilt interior.
Description: Masterfully crafted oval shape with several indents. Ornamentally openworked double wall. Eagles sitting on the four volute feet. Female busts as handles on the sides. Rim decorated with three-dimensional putti sitting inbetween garlands. Two idealized oval cityscapes painted on the sides.
Correspondingly designed lid with cartouches depicting the Saxon coat of arms as well as hunting scenes. Crowned by two putti holding up a crown.
Gilt interior, the inside oft he lid with floral relief.
Measurement: 21,5x25x18cm.
Mark: Swordsmark, B136.


Literature:
Jedding, Hermann: Meissener Porzellan des 18.Jahrhunderts in Hamburger Privatbesitz.
Hamburg 1982.

In Kaendler's work report, the following note from the 6th of October 1738 has been preserved:"1 sehr mühsames Drüsel Kästgen, welches für Ihro Majt. die Königin bestellet worden. Es ist solches von ziemlicher Größe um und um aufs sauberste verkröpfet, auf das Verkröpfte aber um und um saubere Zieraten flach poussiret, welche nachgehends durchbrochen kommen, hinter den durchbrochenen sind wieder andere Ornamente zu sehen".
("1 very laborious gilded box, which was ordered for her Majesty the Queen. It is of quite a large size and is formed with very neat indents, but clean ornaments are shaped all around the indented sections, which are also pierced; behind the pierced parts, other ornaments can be seen".)

This indicates that this splendid vessel was originally designed for Maria Josepha, the wife of August III, by Kaendler. It was used for "storing threads for embroidery and the like"(Zimmermann 1926, p.140).
Later, varying versions of the tureen were produced for other clients too. The castle museum in Schwerin owns a version with the coat of arms of Mecklenburg.